Warren Murphy was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on September 13, 1933. Before becoming an author, worked in journalism and politics. In 1971, he started the Destroyer series with Richard Sapir. His other novels include Jericho Day, The Red Moon, The Ceiling of Hell, The Sure Thing, and Honor Among Thieves. He has received various awards including the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award for The Grandmaster and Pigs Get Fat, and a Special Award for Trace. He has also received the Private Eye Writers of America's Shamus Award for The Ceiling of Hell and Another Day, Another Dollar. He also wrote the screenplays for the movies Lethal Weapon 2 and The Eiger Sanction.